What does Islam say About Terrorism

Unfortunately more and more often, Islam has been associated with terrorism and violence due to the actions of a few extreme individuals who’ve taken it upon themselves to do the most heinous crimes in the name of Islam

Tragic events such as the 9/11 attack on the twin towers in New York, the bombings of Bali, Madrid, London and the boho haram’s kidnaps and bombings in Nigeria are assumed to be justified by Islam in the minds of some people. This idea has been fueled further by many media channels which defame Islam by portraying these bombers as ‘Islamists’ or ‘Jihadists’, as though they were sanctioned by Islam, or had any legitimate spokemenship on behalf of Muslims. The actions of a few fanatical individuals who happen to have Muslim names or ascribe themselves to the Muslim faith should not be a yardstick by which Islam is judged. For the same reason, that one would not do justice to Christianity if it were perceived as sanctioning the genocide of the Native Americans, the slavery trade of black people who where to taken to the American continent, the atrocities of world war II or even the bombings of the IRA

To understand Islam’s stance on terrorism, one must refer to its original sources, the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) which are explicit in their prohibition of any form of injustice including that of wanton violence which seeks to instill fear, injury or death to civilians.

The Quran turns our attention to the high value of human life, whether it is Muslim or Non-Muslim and makes it absolutely forbidden to take an innocent life unjustly.  The gravity of such a crime is equated, in the Quran, with the killing of all humanity.

The Quran states

“On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.” ( 5:32)

Not only is human life sacred in Islam but the property, wealth, family and dignity of all individuals in society are to be respected and protected.  Those who transgress these rights and cause corruption as the Quran describes it, incur the wrath of Allah( God in Arabic language)

“…and seek not corruption in the earth; lo! Allah loveth not corrupters

Likewise in another verse from the Quran

“The blame is only against those who oppress men and wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a penalty grievous” (42:42)

Islam goes further than just prohibiting oppression and safeguarding rights, it commands its faithful to deal kindly and compassionately to all those who seek to live in peace and harmony

“Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for your faith, nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: For Allah loves those who are just” (60:8)

In times of war and conflict, where enmity can obstruct an individual’s judgement to act morally, Islam commands that justice be upheld even towards one’s enemies.

“O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do” (5:8)

Centuries before the Geneva Convention was drawn up, Muslims were bound by a code of conduct which the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) set.  He forbade the killing of women, children and elderly in war. In an authentic narration the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) warned that he who kills anyone who has a covenant of peace with the Muslims will not smell the scent of Paradise. In fact, he taught that justice is not only to humans but must be shown to animals and all living things.  In a narration the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) informed us about how a lady was sent to hell because of a cat she had locked up until it starved and died.  If such is the sanctity which Islam places on the soul of an animal, how much more is the killing of hundreds of innocent humans?!

Abu Bakr the first Calipha( States man) of the Muslims in the Muslim world, reflected these prophetic teachings when he advised his general Yazid, who was confronting Roman armies,

“I advise you ten things, Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place. Do not slaughter sheep or camels except for food. Do not burn bees and do not scatter them. Do not steal from the booty, and do not be cowardly.”

The message of the Quran is clear as we have seen, that the sanctity of any human life is to be respected and any violation in that regard is paramount to the worst crime.  Mercy is at the heart of the Islamic call, “We sent thee (O Muhammad) not save as a mercy for the peoples” (21:107); a totally different message to what the terrorists are sadly imparting to humanity.

So the tragic 9/11 event, the bombings in London as also as the incident that is currently happening in Nigeria, is not of Islamic teaches and principles, cause every practising Muslim in the world knows that it’s a huge crime to kidnap, torture, innocent lives as it is totally opposite to the teaches of Islam  

Poetry in Islam / Islamic poetry

 –  Written by Ziyaad Zerophyte

In Greek language poet means a “seer” and Arabic word “shair” means the man of consciousness and wisdom. Hence it can be said that poets are the sensitive people; with higher senses and sensibilities. William Wordsworth says that poetry is intermittent inspiration and overflow of powerful emotions expressed in tranquility. Matthew Arnold regards poetry as the criticism of life. Some critics consider poetry as creation of higher and nobler human ideals. God has created Prophets, poets and philosophers. No one can make them in factories, workshops and academies.

Poets are born poets. Then why there is a general consensus that the Quran has condemned poets and poetry as something to be despised or rejected? Many people ask me about poetry. They pose the same traditional question which the dry priests tell them. Poetry is prohibited in the Quran. Is it? Let us briefly shed light on this subject.

First of all we must understand that out of context we can never arrive at our destination. The Quran should be read and understood in totality of its message and spirit. Its verses are local and universal. Some verses are in local environments but leave universal and eternal message. Similar is the case with the Quranic verses revealed about poets.

There are two main verses dealing with the subject of poets. In Sura Yasin in verse 69 the Quran says: “We have not instructed the (Prophet) in poetry, not is it meet for him; this is no less than a message and a Quran making things clear.” Why this verse was revealed to the Prophet? Simply because the Quranic idiom, language and style are so unique that none can excel it. It is neither poetry nor prose. Its lucid, lyrical and mellifluous style is not less than any miracle. The heretics regarded this rhythmic and musical idiom of the Quran as poetry and magic. The infidels leveled three false charges against the Prophet (PBUH) of Islam. They said; he is a magician; he is a poet; he is a madman; he is an epileptic. God negates their accusations and in Sura Najm by saying; “By the star when it goes down, your companion is neither astray nor being mislead. Nor does he say (anything) of (his own) desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him. He was taught by one Mighty in Power, endued with wisdom.”

These verses of Sura Yasin and Sura Najm clearly exhibit the truth that God rejected the claim of the infidels who regarded the Quran as the book of poetry and Prophet Mohammad as a poet. The poets in general are not condemned in Sura Yasin. It is an apt reply to the infidels that the Quran is a message from God with a serious mission and motto.

During the life time of the Prophet the Arabs were known for their poetic eloquence and excellence. They named all non-Arabs as “Ajamy” which means the dumb. The Arabs were much proud of their poetry and oratory. They used to challenge others in the matters of eloquence. IT is the way of God that He conferred special miraculous powers to different prophets as required by time. During the time of David the work of smithy was in boom. God gave the power of melting iron by hand to David. It was a miracle. The necromancy and sorcery were at height in the period of Moses. God gave him a staff which showed miracles. It devoured the snakes of the magicians and also parted the sea in to two making route for his men. In the time of Jesus Christ the people were expert in treating the patients through herbs and through spiritual incantations. God gave miraculous power to Jesus to spiritually treat the lepers and the blind. He even raised the dead in to life. Similarly during the period of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) the poets used to paste or hang their writings on the walls of Kaaba and prove their excellence.

Image courtesy of http://homaartgallery.com/

 

“Saba Moalleqat” were very much popular writings hung on the walls of Kaaba. Each year there was a poetry contest at Mecca in which great poets from all over Arabia used to participate. Under such circumstances the Prophet also hung the Sura Al-Kausar on the wall of Kaaba. A man of letters after reading the Sura Al-Kausar wrote underneath: “This is not the word of man.” This was the reason that the heretics out of shear jealousy, heresy and infidelity called the Prophet a poet which was defied by God. “The poets” is full chapter in the Quran. In it God says; “And the poets, – it is those straying in evil, who follow them; don’t you see that they wander distracted in every valley? And that they say what they do not practise. Except those who believe, work righteousness, engage much in the remembrance of Allah, and defend themselves only after they are unjustly attacked.”

These verses divide poets in to two classes. The evil ones and the righteous ones. The poets who spread evil are condemned. The poets who preach nobility are praised. Here one question arises. Is it only for poets? Is it not for prose writers? Or is it not for all humans? If somebody preaches profanity in prose will he be appreciated? Sacrilegious ideas or deeds have to be condemned. When the Quran talks about the poets it is in local as well as in universal context. God told the people that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was not a day dreamer or idle claimer. Rather he is a Prophet, an activist and a dynamic soul with practical mission.

Good and positive poetry is not condemned. They Holy Prophet used to ask people to recite the holy poetry of Hazrat Abu Talib. Hassan bin Sabit used to recite “Naat” in the presence of the Prophet. Hazrat Ali was a poet. In Muslim literature the spiritual and didactic poetry of Saadi, Rumi, Sanai, Attar, Amir Khusroo and Allama Iqbal has special places. In western literature the Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained of Milton; The Faerie Queen of Edmund Spenser and the Metaphysical Poems of John Donne have high place. These writers justified the ways of God to Man. They enhanced the divine mission of the prophets through their facile pen and noble spirit. Hence in the light of above brief dissertation we can profess that Islam does not oppose poetry if it is written on didactic and divine lines.

The Islamic perspective on the purpose of Life

Why do we eat?’  ‘Why do we sleep?’  ‘Why do we work?’  The answers we would get to these questions would be straight-forward.  ‘I eat to live.’  ‘I sleep to rest.’  ‘I work to support myself and my family.’  When it comes to the purpose of life however, people are confused.  We see their confusion by the type of answers we receive.  Youths may say, “I live for booze and bikinis.”  The middle aged professional might say, “I live to save enough for a comfortable retirement.”  The old man would probably say, “I’ve been asking why I’m here most of my life.  If there’s a purpose, I don’t care anymore.”  And perhaps the most common answer will be, “I really don’t know!

So what is the meaning and purpose of life?’  This is, perhaps, the most important question that has ever been asked.  Throughout the ages, philosophers have considered it to be the most fundamental of questions.  Scientists, historians, philosophers, writers, psychologists and the common man all wrestle with the question at some point in their lives.

In Islam is the response to humanity’s search for meaning is thus; the purpose of creation for all men and women, for all times has been one: to know and worship God.

Courtesy of freeislamicwallpapers01.blogspot.com

The Quran teaches us that every human being is born conscious of God,

“(Remember) when your Lord extracted from the loins of Adam’s children their descendants and made them testify [saying]: ‘Am I not your Lord?’  They said: ‘Yes, we testify to it.’  (This was) in case you say on the Day of Judgment: ‘We were unaware of this.’  Or you say: ‘It was our ancestors who worshipped others besides God and we are only their descendants.  Will you then destroy us for what those liars did?’”(Quran 7:172-173)

The Prophet (S.A.W) of Islam teaches us that God created this primordial need in human nature at the time Adam was made. God extracted all of Adam’s descendants who were yet to be born, generation after generation, spread them out, and took a covenant from them.  He addressed their souls directly, making them bear witness that He was their Lord.  Since God made all human beings swear to His Lordship when He created Adam, this oath is imprinted on the human soul even before it enters the fetus, and so a child is born with a natural belief in the Oneness of God.  This natural belief is called fitra in Arabic.  Consequently, every person carries the seed of belief in the Oneness of God that lies deeply buried under layers of negligence and dampened by social conditioning.  If the child were left alone, it would grow up conscious of God – a single Creator – but all children are affected by their environment.  The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said,

“Each child is born in a state of ‘fitra’, but his parents make him a Jew or a Christian.  It is like the way an animal gives birth to a normal offspring.  Have you noticed any young born mutilated before you mutilate them?”[1]

So, just as the child’s body submits to physical laws, set by God in nature, its soul submits naturally to the fact that God is its Lord and Creator.  However, its parents condition it to follow their own way, and the child is not mentally capable of resisting it.  The religion which the child follows at this stage is one of custom and upbringing, and God does not hold it to account for this religion.  When a child matures into an adult, he or she must now follow the religion of knowledge and reason.  As adults, people must now struggle between their natural disposition towards God and their desires in order to find the correct path.  The call of Islam is directed to this primordial nature, the natural disposition, the imprint of God on the soul, the fitra, which caused the souls of every living being to agree that He Who made them was their Lord, even before the heavens and earth were created,

“I did not create the jinn and mankind except for my worship.” (Quran 51:56)

According to Islam, there has been a basic message which God has revealed through all prophets, from the time of Adam to the last of the prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon them).  All them sent by God came with the same essential message:

“Indeed, We have sent a messenger to every nation (saying), ‘Worship God and avoid false gods…’” (Quran 16:36)

The prophets brought the same answer to mankind’s most troubling question, an answer that addresses the yearning of the soul for God.

What is it to worship?

‘Islam’ means ‘submission’, and worship, in Islam, means ‘obedient submission to the will of God.’

Every created being ‘submits’ to the Creator by following the physical laws created by God,

“To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and the earth; all obey His will.” (Quran 30:26)

They, however, are neither rewarded nor punished for their ‘submission’, for it involves no will.  Reward and punishment are for those who worship God, who submit to the moral and religious Law of God of their own free will.  This worship is the essence of the message of all the prophets sent by God to mankind.  For example, this understanding of worship was emphatically expressed by Jesus Christ(SAW),

Courtesy of http://www.resolutionwall.com

“None of those who call me ‘Lord’ will enter the kingdom of God, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

‘Will’ means ‘what God wants human beings to do.’  This ‘Will of God’ is contained in the divinely revealed laws which the prophets taught their followers.  Consequently, obedience to divine law is the foundation of worship.  Only when human beings worship their God by submitting to His religious law can they have peace and harmony in their lives and the hope for heaven, just like the universe runs in harmony by submitting to the physical laws set by its Lord.  When you remove the hope of heaven, you remove the ultimate value and purpose of life.  Otherwise, what difference would it really make whether we live a life of virtue or vice?  Everyone’s fate would be the same anyway.

Who Needs Worship?

God is in no need of our worship, it is mankind that needs to worship God.  If no-one were to worship God, it would not take away from His glory in any way, and if all of mankind were to worship Him, it would not add to His glory.  It is we, who are in need of God:

“I need no provision from them, neither do I need that they should feed Me for, surely, God Himself is the Provider of all sustenance, the Possessor of mighty power.” (Quran 51:57-58)

“…But God is Rich, and it is you that are poor…” (Quran 47:38)

How to Worship God: And Why?

God is worshipped by obeying the laws He revealed through the prophets.  For example, in the Bible, Prophet Jesus(SAW) made obedience to the divine laws the key to paradise:

“If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17).

Also Prophet Jesus(SAW) is reported in the Bible to have insisted on strict obedience to the commandments, saying:

“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:19)

Why do human beings need to worship God by obeying the divinely revealed laws?  The answer is simple.  Obedience to divine law brings peace to this life and salvation in the next.

Divine laws provide human beings a clear code to guide every sphere of human life and interaction.  Since the Creator alone knows best what is best for His creation, His laws protect the human soul, body, and society from harm.  In order for human beings to fulfill their purpose of creation, they must worship God by obeying His commandments.

The False Gods of Modernity

God is Who gives meaning and orientation to life.  On the other hand, modern life lacks a single center, a single orientation, a single goal, a single purpose.  It has no common principle or guideline.

Since Islam considers a god to be an entity that is served out of love, deep respect, and anticipation of reward, one can say that the modern world serves many gods.  The gods of modernity give meaning and context to the life of modern man.

We live in a house of language, and our words and expressions are the windows through which we look out at the world.  Evolution, nationalism, feminism, socialism, Marxism, and, depending on how they are employed, democracy, freedom, and equality can be listed among the indefinable ideologies of modern times.  “Plastic words,” to borrow the words of Uwe Poerksen, a German linguist, have been used to usurp God’s power and authority to shape and define the goal of society, or even of humanity itself.  These words have connotations with a ‘feel good’ aura.  Indefinable words become a limitless ideal.  By making the ideal limitless, unlimited needs are awakened, and once these needs are awakened, they appear to be ‘self-evident.’

As it is easy to fall into the habit of worshipping false gods, people then have no protection against the multiplicity of gods that modern ways of thinking demand that they serve.  The “plastic words” give great power to those ‘prophets’ who speak on their behalf, because they speak in the name of ‘self-evident’ truths, so other people keep silent.  We must follow their authority; the axiomatic pundits who lay down the Law for our health, welfare, well-being, and education.

The window of modernity through which we perceive reality today is marked by cracks, smudges, blind spots, and filters.  It covers the reality.  And the reality is that people have no real need except toward God.  But nowadays, these empty ‘idols’ have become the objects of people’s devotion and worship, as the Quran states:

“Have you not seen the one who takes his desires as his god?…” (Quran 45:23)

Each of these “plastic words” makes other words appear primitive and out-of-date.  ‘Believers’ in idols of modernity are proud of worshipping these gods; friends and colleagues consider them enlightened for doing so.  Those who still insist on holding onto the “old” God can cover up the embarrassment of doing so by worshipping the new ‘modern’ gods along with Him.  Obviously, many people who claim to worship the “old-fashioned” God will twist His teachings in this event, so that He also seems to be telling us to serve these “plastic words.”

The worship of false gods entails the corruption not only of individuals and society, but also of the natural world.  When people refuse to serve and worship God as He has asked them to serve Him, they cannot fulfill the functions for which He has created them.  The result is that our world becomes ever more chaotic, just as the Quran tells us:

“Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea because of what the hands of people have earned.” (Quran 30:41)

Islam’s answer to the meaning and purpose of life fulfills the fundamental human need: a return to God.  However, everyone is going back to God willy-nilly, so the question is not merely going back, but how one goes back.  Will it be in shameful agonizing chains awaiting punishment, or joyful and grateful humility for that which God has promised?  If you await the latter, then through the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), God guides people back to Him in a manner that will ensure their eternal happiness.

Courtesy of http://www.godallah.com

The stories of new Muslims – Helena

Assalam alaikum beautiful people

In this article I thought it would be fruitful to share the story of a young lady who converted to Islam, her journey of researching about God, self, and trying to find the purpose of this life.

It is always a case that in this world we are living in, people tend to find it frightening to know what the purpose of this life is, which is why mostly, you get more people following blindly without clearly understanding their purpose in this world.

Miss Helena shares her story of spiritual and physical enlightenment that let her to be one the followers of the fastest growing religion in this world.

Ms. Helena:

Growing up in a supposedly Christian, but in fact non-religious family, I never heard the name of God being uttered, I never saw anyone pray and I learned early on that the only reason for doing things was to benefit yourself. We celebrated Christmas, Easter, Midsummer and All Saints Day and even though I never knew why, I never questioned it. It was part of being Swedish. As a Christian (protestant) you can go through something called confirmation when you are about 15 years of age. This is meant to be a class to take to learn about your religion and then confirm your belief. I wanted to do this to learn about Christianity so I was signed up for this 3-week camp which was a combined golf-and confirmation camp. In the mornings we had classes with a senile priest and our thoughts wandered off to the upcoming game of golf. I didn’t learn anything. I went through high-school with a breeze. I felt that nothing could harm me. My grades were the best possible and my self confidence was at the top. Religion never came to my mind. I was doing just fine. Everyone I knew that was “religious” had found “the light” after being either depressed or very sick and they said that they needed Jesus in their life to be able to live on. I felt that I could do anything that I put my mind to and that religion only was an excuse to hide from reality.

In college, I started thinking about the meaning of life. I had a hard time accepting any religion because of all the wars and problems relating to them. I made up my own philosophy. I was convinced that some form of power created everything but I couldn’t say that it was God. God for me was the Christian image of an old man with a long white beard and I knew that an old man could not have created the universe! I believed in a life after death because I just couldn’t believe that justice wouldn’t be served. I also believed that everything happens for a reason. Due to my background and schooling I was fooled to believe in Darwin’s theory, since it is taught as a fact. The more I thought about the meaning of life, the more depressed I became, and I felt that this life is like a prison. I lost most of my appetite for life.

I knew a lot about Buddhism and Hinduism since I was interested in these things in school. We learned in detail about their way of thinking and worship. I didn’t know anything about Islam. I remember my high-school textbook in Religion showing how Muslims pray. It was like a cartoon strip to show the movements but I didn’t learn about the belief. I was fed all the propaganda through mass media and I was convinced that all Muslim men oppressed their wives and hit their children. They were all violent and didn’t hesitate to kill.

In my last year of college I had a big passion for science and I was ready to hit the working scene. An international career or at least some international experience was needed to improve my English and get an advantage over fellow job hunters. I ended up in Boston and was faced with four Muslims. At that point I didn’t know who Muhammad was and I didn’t know that Allah was the same god as “God”. I started asking questions and reading books, but most importantly, I started socializing with Muslims. I never had any friends from another country before (let alone another religion). All the people that I knew were Swedish. The Muslims that I met were wonderful people. They accepted me right away and they never forced anything on me. They were more generous to me than my own family. Islam seemed to be a good system of life and I acknowledged the structure and stability it provided but I was not convinced it was for me. One of my problems was that science contradicted religion (at least from what I knew about Christianity). I read the book “The Bible, The Quran and Science” by Maurice Bucaille and all of my scientific questions were answered! Here was a religion that was in line with modern science. I felt excited but it was still not in my heart.

I had a period of brain storming when I was thinking over all the new things I learnt. I felt my heart softening and I tried to imagine a life as a Muslim. I saw a humble life full of honesty, generosity, stability, peace, respect and kindness. Most of all I saw a life with a MEANING. I knew I had to let go of my ego and humble myself before something much more powerful than myself. Twice, I was asked the question “What is stopping you from becoming Muslim?” The first time I panicked and my brain was blocked. The second time I thought for awhile to come up with any excuse. There was none so I said the shahada, Al-Hamdulillah {testimony}.

Love,

Helena

Next article I’m gonna be sharing the Islamic perspective about the purpose of life, hopefully it might benefit the knowledge seekers to continue being open minded in this beautiful journey of life as the underground disciples…….

Origins of Islam By M. Abdulsalam

– Shared by Ziyaad Zerophyte

Image courtesy of http://www.prosebeforehos.com

The first human, Adam, followed Islam, in that he directed worship to God alone and none else and abided by His commandments.  But through the passage of time and the dispersal of humanity throughout the earth, people strayed from this message and began directing worship to others instead of or along with God.  Some took to worshipping the pious who passed away amongst them, while others took to worshipping spirits and forces of nature.  It was then that God started to send messengers to humanity steering them back to the worship of God Alone, which accorded to their true nature, and warning them of the grave consequences of directing any type of worship to others besides Him.

The first of these messengers was Noah, who was sent to preach this message of Islam to his people, after they had started to direct worship to their pious forefathers along with God.  Noah called his people to leave the worship of their idols, and ordered them to return to the worship of God Alone.  Some of them followed the teachings of Noah, while the majority disbelieved in him.  Those who followed Noah were followers of Islam, or Muslims, while those that did not, remained in their disbelief and were seized with a punishment for doing so.

After Noah, God sent messengers to every nation who had strayed from the Truth, to steer them back to it.  This Truth was the same throughout time: to reject all objects of worship and to direct all worship without exception to God and none else, the Creator and Lord of all, and to abide by His commandments.  But as we mentioned before, because each nation differed in regards to their way of life, language, and culture, specific messengers were sent to specific nations for a specific time period.

God sent messengers to all nations, and to the Kingdom of Babylon He sent Abraham –  one of the earliest and greatest prophets –  who called his people to reject the worship of the idols to which they were devoted.  He called them to Islam, but they rejected him and even tried to kill him.  God put Abraham through many tests, and he proved true to all of them.  For his many sacrifices, God proclaimed that he would raise from amongst his progeny a great nation and choose prophets from amongst them.  Whenever people from his progeny started to stray away from the Truth, which was to worship none but God alone and to obey His commandments, God sent them another messenger steering them back to it.

Consequently, we see that many prophets were sent amongst the progeny of Abraham, such as his two sons Isaac and Ishmael, along with Jacob (Israel), Joseph, David, Solomon, Moses, and of course, Jesus, to mention a few, may the peace and blessings of God be upon them all.  Each prophet was sent to the Children of Israel (the Jews) when they went astray from the true religion of God, and it became obligatory upon them to follow the messenger which was sent to them and obey their commandments.  All of the messengers came with the same message, to reject worship of all other beings except God Alone and to obey His commandments.  Some disbelieved in the prophets, while others believed.  Those that believed were followers of Islam, or Muslims.

Image courtesy of http://www.fanpop.com

From amongst the messengers was Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, from the progeny of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, who was sent as a messenger in succession to Jesus.  Muhammad preached the same message of Islam as the previous prophets and messengers – to direct all worship to God Alone and none else and to obey His commandments – in which the followers of the previous prophets went astray.

So as we see, the Prophet Muhammad was not the founder of a new religion, as many people mistakenly think, but he was sent as the Final Prophet of Islam.  By revealing His final message to Muhammad, which is an eternal and universal message for all of mankind, God finally fulfilled the covenant that He made with Abraham.

Just as it was incumbent upon the those who were alive to follow the message of the last of the succession of prophets which was sent to them, it becomes incumbent upon all of humanity to follow the message of Muhammad.  God promised that this message would remain unchanged and fit for all times and places.  Suffice is it to say that the way of Islam is the same as the way of the prophet Abraham, because both the Bible and the Quran portray Abraham as a towering example of someone who submitted himself completely to God and directed worship to Him alone and none else, and without any intermediaries.  Once this is realized, it should be clear that Islam has the most continuous and universal message of any religion, because all prophets and messengers were “Muslims”, i.e. those who submitted to God’s will, and they preached “Islam”, i.e. submission to the will of Almighty God by worshipping Him Alone and obeying His commandments.

So we see that those who call themselves Muslims today do not follow a new religion; rather they follow the religion and message of all prophets and messengers which were sent to humanity by God’s command, also known as Islam.  The word “Islam” is an Arabic word which literally means “submission to God”, and Muslims are those who willfully submit to and actively obey God, living in accordance with His message.

Education and Islam

–          Written by Ziyaad Zerophyte

The education of the Islamic Curriculum can be divided into two types; the sciences and the culture. Experimental sciences and their branches include such subjects as mathematics and medicine, and Cultural includes the likes of languages, history and fiqh (jurisprudence).

 

Experimental sciences and their branches would be adopted and included in the curriculum, according to the need for them and without any restrictions. As for the cultural subjects, these would be taught in the primary and secondary terms following a specific policy, which would not contradict Islam and its rules. As for the higher education, these cultures would be adopted and studied like any other science as long as they do not lead to a deviation from the policy and the aims of education. As for the arts and industries, such as commerce and economics, shipping etc… these would be part of the sciences and would be taught as such. As for the sciences which are derived from a certain culture when affected by a specific viewpoint such as painting and sculpture, these would be rejected since they contradict the Islamic viewpoint (painting and sculpturing of any living soul being haraam).

The Manara Islamic School – courtesy of http://www.guardian.co.uk

Students would study the Islamic culture in depth at all levels, this includes the fiqh and the foundations of fiqh, the commentary (tafseer), the hadith and the Arabic Language and its literature, as well as the Islamic History. They would also study natural science, chemistry, civil engineering, medicine, biology, pharmacy etc… Special colleges would be set up for this purpose at university level. Other subjects such as philosophy, sociology, foreign history, foreign languages and their literature; these would be restricted and would not be taught at primary and secondary levels, for they contain aspects of cultures which contradict the Islamic viewpoint. Therefore, the minds of the Muslims would only be nurtured by the Islamic culture and the experimental sciences and whatever does not contradict the Islamic ‘aqeedah (creed). This would ensure the development of the Islamic mentality and disposition in the Muslim individual, achieving therefore an Islamic personality. The Muslim society would therefore remain distinct in its thought and behavior and protected against deviation and disintegration.

 

Today the Muslim world is plagued by astonishingly high levels of illiteracy, e.g. Pakistan and Bangladesh. Prophet Muhammed (saw) tackled head on the issue of illiteracy amongst Muslims. He (saw) made the ransom of each prisoner at Badr to teach ten Muslims how to read. The Islamic state would strive to ensure every Muslim thus turns into either a scholar (mujtahid) or a learner (muttabi’i).
During most of Islamic history, every major city within the Khilafah (Islamic state) possessed public and private libraries. Libraries such as Cordoba and Baghdad boasted collections of over 400,000 books. Arabic became the most important scientific language due to translation of works of Aristotle, Plato, Pythagorean School, Greek astronomy, Ptolemy and Euclid. Muslim scholars discussed and refuted many of the ideas of these scholars, e.g. Imam Ghazzali’s ‘Tahafut al-Falasifah’ (‘Refutation of the Philosophers’) and Ibn Taymiyya’s ‘Kitab ul Ibtal’ (‘Book of Invalidity’).

Kuttab – image courtesy of http://www.alnahaam.com

The Muslims use of the Zero, which was previously absent in mathematical sciences enabled great advances, solving problems that for centuries remained unsolved. Muslim mathematicians devised and developed algebra, and the concept of algorithms were thought up (and named after) Al-Khwarizmi, a famous Muslim scholar who lived in the Islamic State.

 
The Khilafah (Islamic state) would ensure the provision of free education to every male and female (Muslim and non-Muslim) at both primary and secondary levels. Education at higher levels would be encouraged and the state would help in funding those who wish to do so as much as possible.
Libraries and laboratories would be set up in places other than the schools and colleges, in order to enable those who wished to take up further studies, in various subjects such as fiqh, hadith and tafseer, medicine, civil engineering, and pure sciences, to do so. Medicine: Muslim physicians developed many surgical instruments to perform operations, as well as describing countless other aspects of medical science, such as:

· Al-Razi used alcohol as an antiseptic, and found a treatment for smallpox in the 10th century.
· Ibn Sina diagnosed and treated meningitis in the 11th century, and his textbook of medicine (Al-Qanun) was used as a standard reference in Europe for centuries after.
· Ibn al-Nafis described the minor circulation of blood in the 14th century.
· The words ‘Retina’ and ‘Cataract’ derive from Arabic.
· Muslims were expert in ophthalmology, and explained the workings of the eye, and devised surgical procedures to remedy cataracts during the 13th century (all CE).
Science flourished under the Islamic Education system. The Muslims were the most advanced in the world in fields such as :
· mathematics,
· geometry,
· optics,
· astronomy,
· medicine,
· physics,
· natural sciences,
· engineering and many others.
The Khaleefah (Islamic state ruler) Harun al-Rashid would punish parents who had not ensured that their children had learned to read and pronounce Arabic. He also provided financial incentives for any, who would teach, learn, propagate or debate issues of the deen.

The Objective of The Education Policy in Islam

 

Islam’s policy regarding seeking knowledge and education has always been aimed at building the Islamic mentality and the Islamic disposition (tendencies or inclination), which together form the Islamic personality. Islam develops a comprehensive understanding on life. And through this understanding, it shapes our actions; it also shapes our likes and dislikes. Children would, therefore, not only perform their Islamic duties, but they would do so with pleasure. Islam has dealt with both of these matters and linked them directly to the ‘aqeedah (creed), so some of its texts deal with the thought (the mentality) and other texts deal with the tendencies (the emotions).

 
An example of the former is reflected in the saying of the Prophet Muhammed (saw): “The reflection of one hour is better than the worship of seventy years.” And an example of the latter is reflected in Allah’s(God’s name is Arab) (swt) saying, ”Say if your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your wives and your tribe and the wealth you have acquired and merchandise for which you fear that there will be no sale, and dwellings you desire are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way, then wait till Allah brings His command to pass, and Allah guides not wrongdoing folk.” [TMQ 9:24].

And also reflected by Prophet Muhammed (saw) saying, “No one amongst you becomes a believer until I become dearer to him than himself.” All this is to make the Muslim is mind as well as his/her feelings based on the ‘aqeedah of Islam. Therefore, any knowledge which if acquired would help achieve the Islamic personality would be adopted and anything which leads to other than this would be rejected, and not included in the Islamic State’s curriculum. A Muslim should not occupy his mind with philosophical opinions because they contradict the Islamic ‘aqeedah, and his desires should not lean towards a life of disintegration, opulence and mixing, for these are not Islamic tendencies. This is quite the opposite of the established Western education system, where children are made to feel uncomfortable with Islamic tendencies. It now remains to be seen how Islam practically enforces the Islamic personality, and protects from exposure to non-Islamic (Kufr) culture.

The Qur’an – courtesy of http://www.lastprophet.info

The Muslims’ Educational Institutions

Al-Katatib: Which is the plural of kuttab, is the place where the Qur’an writing and calculating are taught. These katatib were present throughout the reign of the Islamic State in the cities and villages.
The Mosques: The scholars and the hadith experts used to hold study circles in the majestic central mosques, where they used to sit and teach or debate matters of fiqh, tafseer, language and hadith; these used to be attended by their pupils.

 
The Qur’an centers: The first to establish a separate center for the teaching of Qur’an was the receptor Rasha ibn Nathif al-Dimashqi, and that was in Damascus in the year 400 Hijri.

 
The Hadith centers: The first to establish a center specializing in the teaching of hadith was al-Malik al-Adil Nureddine, Mahmud al-Zanki, in Damascus as well.

 
The Schools: These were established in the fifth century of Hijrah in Damascus; there was a school for every subject such as the school of civil engineering in Damascus and the school of medicine.

 
The Universities: These were established in the middle of the fifth century Hijri. Al-Hakam ibn Abdul Rahman established the university of Cordoba which was one of the most famous centers of education at the time. Other universities were established in many places such as the Mustansiryya University in Baghdad.

 
Students from all over Europe sought admission to these types of institutions. These universities educated many scholars who played an influential part in what the world of science has reached today in terms of inventions, such as Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn al-Haytham, Ibn Sina, Jabir ibn Hayyan, Al-Razi and others.

Summary : Education in Islam

 

The youth of this generation are the leaders and governors of the generations to come. Thus, their education, the way they think, the values and ideals they hold, are of vital importance in shaping the future of the world. If you take a look around you now and see the situation of the younger generations, do you have confidence that their future will be in safe hands?
In the Islamic State, the Education System is geared towards building the Islamic personality in all the students. This prepares them to live their lives in accordance with the orders and prohibitions of Allah (swt). They will be taught all they need to know about the various aspects of Islam, such as social conduct, prayer, Islamic law etc.

 
As well, they will be motivated to achieve excellence in the fields of science and technology, commerce and the arts. These will be taught within the framework of Islam, such that the hypothetical ideas which are propounded as facts in the West, like evolution of humans from apes and matter and energy being eternal, will not corrupt their minds.

 
The concepts taught by the Education System of Islam are based entirely on reality, and they motivate the ones carrying them to apply their minds to this reality and discover its true nature. The study of living things, the oceans, and the planets – all these will point to the fact of Allah’s existence and omnipotence.

 
In this way, the educational curriculum will ensure that Islam, science and the affairs of life will not be seen as separate and unconnected worlds, but will be regarded as a holistic and intricately interwoven whole.

 
In the society as a whole, which teaches people as much as any school, by means of the television, magazines and radio; unacceptable images of sex, violence and crime will not exist in the Islamic State as an influence over the people. Rather, these unfruitful pursuits will be replaced with stories of the Prophet (saw) and his Sahabah (RA), or other lessons in the Islamic way of life.

 

You will see how implementation of the Islamic Education System established those living under it, whether Muslim or not, at the forefront of science and technology, and how it built personalities that stood forth in justice[*]

Glossary:

–          saw : salam alay wasalam (peace be upon him)

–          swt : subhan wa’taal (all mighty)

Image courtesy of fearthedunya.wordpress.com

Islam and Africa

– Written by Ziyaad Zerophyte : 

The ancient city of Timbuktu – from http://colinlpowellcenterblog.org/

 

During Muhammad’s lifetime a group of Muslims escaped Meccan persecution (615) by fleeing to Ethiopia, where the Negus gave them protection. The spread of Islam in Africa began in the 7th and 8th century BCE, with the Umayyads, who brought the religion to the Middle East and to the littoral of North Africa. Along the coast of Africa Islam spread among the Berbers, who joined the Muslim community and almost immediately drove north across the Mediterranean, into Europe. In Morocco, Muslims founded the city of Fès (808), which soon thereafter gave refuge to Andalusian Muslims fleeing an uprising in Córdoba (see Idrisids). On the east coast of Africa, where Arab mariners had for many years journeyed to trade, Arabs founded permanent colonies on the offshore islands, especially on Zanzibar, in the 9th and 10th cent. From there Arab trade routes into the interior of Africa helped the slow acceptance of Islam and led to the development of Swahili culture and language.

Prior to the 19th cent. the greatest gains made by Islam were in the lands immediately south of the Sahara. The Islamization of West  Africa began when the ancient kingdom of Ghana (c.990) extended itself into the Sahara and the Islamic center at Sanhajah. Mansa Musa (1307–32) of Mali was among the first to make Islam the state religion. By the 16th cent. the empire of Mali and its successor-state Songhaj included several Saharan centers of trade and Muslim learning, such as Timbuktu. In the region of the East Sudan, Islamic penetration followed the route of the Nile. By about 1366, Makurra, the more northerly of the two Christian kingdoms of the East Sudan, became Islamic. The other kingdom, Aloa, was captured (c.1504) by the Muslims.

 

Zanzibar mosque – from goafrica.about.com

 

In the 16th cent. Somali conqueror Ahmad Gran unsuccessfully attempted to convert Ethiopia to Islam. In the late 18th and early 19th cent., Africa, like the rest of the Muslim world, was swept by a wave of religious reform. Militant reformers, such as the Fulani and the followers of al-Hajj Umar, greatly extended the area over which Islam held sway in West Africa. Usumanu dan Fodio (1809) founded the Sokoto caliphate, which was eventually incorporated under British rule into Nigeria.

The Muslim brotherhoods also gained many new converts (see Sanusi). European colonialists in many cases adopted Muslim law as a unifying administrative structure, rather than the indigenous and often competing tribal customs of their artificially demarcated colonies. Islam in Africa has to varying degrees incorporated tribal and pre-Islamic practices, and the Muslims of Africa have accepted claims of several self-proclaimed Mahdis. In the 20th cent. Islam has gained more converts in Africa than has Christianity, which labors under the burden of identification with European imperialism. (Info.com)

 

Book cover of The History of Islam in Africa – from http://www.webafriqa.net

 

The book review of The History of Islam in Africa

 

(Taken from http://africanhistory.about.com)
The Islamic faith and Muslims have played a crucial role in the development of Africa, not only in North Africa and West Africa where it is still the dominant religion, but also in East Africa, where its dominance decreases as one moves south, and in Southern Africa, where it was introduced through slaves and political exiles and is most prominent today in the cities of Durban and Cape Town.

 

The History of Islam in Africa is the first book to approach the role of Islam in Africa on a continent-wide basis. Until now more emphasis has been put on Islam in West Africa than any other region. The 24 contributors to the book, who all have impeccable credentials, have focused on the historical, cultural, and environmental factors which influenced diverse, local forms of Islam. This diversity has produced widely varied religious meanings, beliefs, and practices that have molded African communities which at the same time adapted Islam to its new settings.

In the fourteen centuries since the introduction of Islam, Muslims have played important roles in Africa’s development. Muslims were important in the process of state-building, in creating commercial networks between parts of the continent, in introducing literacy (which saw Muslim become scribes in charge of state records), as well as in exchanges of inter-state diplomacy within Africa and beyond.

The book is divided into four sections: Gateways to Africa (Egypt and the Maghrib from the north and the Indian Ocean from the east), West Africa and the Sudan, Eastern and Southern Africa, and General Themes. The latter section includes Islamic law, Muslim women in African history, Islamic education, Sufi brotherhoods, and Islamic art, literature and music.

The contributors’ writing style – no doubt polished by the two editors – has produced a highly readable book instead of a dry, academic tome destined to gather dust. And it’s fortunately been printed with generous margins as it’ll soon be full of personal annotations. As for depth of information, here’s an example. Rather than the usual cursory mention of the person regarded as the founder of Islam in South Africa, Shaykh Yusuf, there’s a satisfying outline of his life: where and when he was born, his education, the reasons for his exile from Batavia by the Dutch, the name of the ship he sailed on, who sailed with him, where he was interned, the reaction by the authorities to his death, and where his religious writings are currently housed.

Anyone with an interest in getting a balanced view of African history will find this book fascinating. But be warned, it’s some 600 pages long, so your friends may not hear from you for a while….

The History of Islam in Africa is a joint publication by three publishers: Ohio University Press in the US (ISBN 0-8214-1297-3), James Currey in the United Kingdom (ISBN 0-85255-781-7), and David Philip in South Africa (ISBN 0-86486-454-X). [*]

 

Minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakesh, Morocco – from sacredsites.com

Biography of Hazrat Bilal (RA): the first muezzin of Islam

– Written by Ziyaad Zerophyte : 

Bilal bin Rabah was one of the most famous companions of Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). An oppressed slave from Abyssinia (now known as Ethiopia) he was one of the earliest converts to Islam in Makkah. He accepted Islam at a time when becoming a Muslim resulted in fierce persecution and even death. Also called Bilal al Habashi because of his ancestral roots, Bilal’s story is one of patience and endurance in face of fierce adversity.

Abyssinia mosque courtesy of http://www.arcadja.com

The Slave:

Before the advent of Islam, slave markets thrived in the Arabian Peninsula. The pagan tribal chiefs were ruthless and cruel and their wealth was usually measured by how many slaves they had in their households. As per the custom, slaves were their master’s property to treat and dispose of as he saw fit and their lives were spent in abject poverty and misery.

Bilal bin Rabah was bought by a Quraish chief Umayyah bin Khalaf, a fierce believer in idol worship. Bilal’s duties were to graze his master’s camels during the day and take care of his meals in the evenings.

In the time when idol worshipping was the custom and pagan rituals the culture of Arabian peninsula, Bilal heard about the message of monotheistic Islam in the markets of Makkah. He heard about Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), the messenger of Allah who preached about justice and equality for all mankind and urged the people to shun idolatry.

The Muslim:

Bilal was deeply moved by this message. While grazing his master’s cattle under the scorching sun, he dared to think about things he had never thought of before. He believed that idols of stones could do no good nor bring harm to people. He secretly met Hazrat Abu Bakr, a close friend of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and accepted Islam. When Umayyah bin Khalaf came to know about his slave’s choice of religion, he was enraged. It was unheard of for a slave to do something of his own free will and Umayyah was determined to teach Bilal a lesson.

He was severely whipped and tortured but Bilal showed no sign of weakening. One day, Umayyah ordered his slaves to take Bilal to the desert and place a heavy boulder on his chest till he is crushed or he forsakes his new religion. Bilal kept on saying, “Allah is One. There is no god but Allah.”

Taken from http://www.mohamadeffazuan.com

The Free Man:

When Hazrat Abu Bakr came to know about this, he went to Umayyah and asked him to sell his slave. Tired of his slave’s defiance, Umayyah agreed to sell Bilal. After the transaction, Abu Bakr declared Bilal a free man. He became the part of the group who stayed close to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) learning from him the teachings of Islam.

Due to the persecution of powerful Makkan chiefs, the handful of these new Muslims had to immigrate to the city of Medina. There a simple mosque was built as a place for Muslims to gather and offer prayers.

The Muezzin:

After the construction of Quba Mosque, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) chose Bilal to give the first call for prayers making him the first official muezzin of the Islamic faith. This decision endorsed the beauty of the religion Islam where a dark skinned non Arab, former slave and a man with a different accent was chosen over all others for this great honor. It proved that in Islam, the measure of a person is not his wealth, nationality or race but his piety and devotion to Allah and Allah’s messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

For the next ten years, during the life of Prophet Muhammad, Bilal announced the adhan calling the faithful to the prayers, five times a day in his clear, melodious voice. When some people expressed their contempt due to his black skin, the following verses of Quran were sent down to chastise them;

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).” (Surah 49:13)

Last Days:

After Prophet Muhammad passed away, Bilal felt unable to continue his duties as the muezzin for his heart was full of sorrow. He stayed close to the first two Caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar bin Khattab. Later in his life, he travelled to Damascus. He visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina one more time and said the adhan for the last time. He went back to Syria where he fell ill and died at the age of sixty.

The Sabahas – Companions of The Prophet

– Written by Ziyaad Zerophyte : 

Life is full of comparisons: Which car is the best? Which is the best job to have? Who is the best at this, and who is the best at that. We pass strangers in the street and we take notice of the way they may dress, the way they walk or how they may talk; and we think to ourselves, do I look like that, do I talk like that? These things may seem important at the time but they are usually a frivolous list, like the stranger in the street, who when they pass,  their value is gone. If we change our focus and begin to compare the character and virtue of those around us, we may just find something truly useful

Sahaba is the Arabic word for “Companions”. In Islam (Submission in English), the term “Sahaba” is used often to refer to the companions of the Prophet Muhammed. The companions are the people who lived and witnessed the Prophet Muhammed. The definition of the word “Sahaby” the singular form of “Sahaba”, differs a great deal among the different scholars. While some scholars consider “Sahaby”, anyone who just witnessed the Prophet, even once, and irrespective of his age others insist that such a person should be of adult age and should have at least two years of companionship of the Prophet.

Image courtesy of: http://500px.com/photo/9130395

Muslims today view the companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, the sahaba, as a generation of people who were very “religious”. The sahaba are rightly viewed as the best generation of the ummah. We learn about their etiquettes and manners in regards to eating, dressing and walking etc. However, we often lack a holistic understanding about their lives.

Yet, one critical question arises: how could it be that all of their lives were only linked to personal acts of ritual ‘ibadaat (worship)? If they were meant to leave us with a complete way of life, then they must have left us with examples concerning all the affairs of life. Indeed, to insinuate otherwise is clearly nonsensical! The sahaba were not just individualized devotees in ritual ‘ibadaat; but most of them were Islamic activists, many of whom gave their lives to establish Islam at a state level and they subsequently became statesmen, politicians, military leaders and businessmen.

The companions (Radiallaahu Anhum) of The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) are the criterion of the Truth. It was from the Sahabahs that the world learned what the Deen of Islam was. It is from the Sahabahs that we have been able to establish the true Shariah. It is from the Sahabahs that we obtained the Sunnah of our Prophet(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam).

The Sahaabah constitute the pivots of Deen of Islam. They are the upholders and defenders of Deen of Allah. History cannot show us any other group which has sacrificed so much blood for the glory of Allah’s Name than the Sahaabahs – may the pleasure of Allah be with them perpetually!

Hadhrat Shah Waliullah (Rahmatullaahi Alayh) has recorded in his book, “Izaala-tul-Khifaa”, approximately one hundred verses of the Qur’aan Majeed which put the seal on the sanctity and the elevated position of the Sahabahs. The Qur’aan Majeed raises the Sahabahs to such a lofty status that to compare them (Sahabahs) with non-Sahabahs would be a grievous error.Said the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)

“Fear Allah! Fear Allah with regard to my Sahabahs. Do not make them a target after me. Whosoever loves the Sahabah loves them because of my love. And, whosoever dislikes them because he dislikes me. He who harms them has harmed me. And, he who harms me has caused hurt to Allah. And, he who causes hurt to Allah, Allah will soon grab hold of him.”

One the best of the sahabas was Abu bakr sidq and was the first caliph after the death of the prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)

I would also like to share a poem by boona mohammed about the sahabas as the apreciationg to what they’ve contributed in religion

Image courtesy of: http://travelmalaysiaguide.com/mosques-malaysia/

Heroes

My heroes never wore tights or appeared on carton channels
They had long beards and kept clothes above the ankles
No combing the streets, like beasts at night looking for thieves
My heroes fought their egos, and narrated ahadith
And some of my heroes were once bag guys too
Baby killers and highway robbers, if you only knew what they knew
Cause you gotta know a lie in order to recognize the truth
And what the point of knowing truth if you can’t back it up with proof
And to prove my heroes were united by a single point of view
Why else would they choose to go against what their fathers used to do?
Unless they knew, that paradise was worth being abused
The best of views, if only you could walk a mile in their shoes,
Oh what I wouldn’t do to kick it with Abduallah Ibn Musuud,
Listen to him recite the Quran, sad to go into ruku
Yeah that would be cool, but me and Hamza, we would kick it old school
Joke about the Jahilliya, silly things they used to do
If I could pick my own crew, Salman Al Farsi would have to be in it,
An honest seeker of truth, may Allah bless his spirit,
Have Tea with Julilibib, Coffee with Anas Ibn Malik
Anything to pick their brains and gain a better understanding
Could you imagine taking a class with Abduallah Ibn Abbas
A scholar by the age of 10, just a boy amongst the men
And if I had one friend, it would be Abu Baker as Saddique,
Someone to hold you down and to really represent,
When Sumayya held her chin to her killers, did she think?
We would name our little girls after her to teach them strength
And who cares about these rappers, we got Hassan Ibn Thabit,
Dude was sick with the flow, can’t believe you didn’t know,
That Zaid was a slave who became one of praise
Lived the American dream, when America was Cree
Umar Bin Khattab was G, held it down for this deen
A real superman, made the devils cross the street
And if I ever had beef, I would call up Khalid Bin Walid
He was a ride or die homie, amongst the Salaf as Saliheen,
And if I close my eyes, man, I could almost see
Bilal amongst the cold morning breeze, Allahu Akbar
Cause surely salah is much better than sleep
Like Abu Sufyan after he embraced the deen
On this earth Talha, was a walking shaheed
And Jafar gave his life for our Ummahs victory
May Allah be pleased and grant them all the highest levels of heaven
Like Uthman ibn Affan, who even the angles were shy in front of
Aisha was a genius, ever word was like a thesis
Mother to all believers, pure like that of Isa’s
Khadija held the fetus of Fatima, who was the teacher
Of Hassan and Hussein, sons of Ali who were slain
Man you gotta know these names, cause these people paved the way
It’s a shame, we know more about them monkeys on BET
This is our history, all the sacrifices that they made for me
Gave to me, a legacy that I could be proud to keep
Said: Be! It was decreed, that at Badr we were only 300 deep
But with the angels on our side, who could even compete?
Although he was a man of peace who preached speech before the sword
He raged a war against error, the worship of fake Lords
Came to restore the deen that Ibrahim laid before
Extreme in his need to feed miskeen and the poor
Yeah, he was hardcore with his face to the floor
Off praying so long that his feet became sore
Uhhhh, yeah he got down like that
And told all the rich they should pay the zakat
And make the salah, and spread the salaam
And declare Ashdu-la-ilah, Ha-il-allah,
Muhammed a rasooul Allah, Sallau alahe wsalaam,
Was the difference between Jannah and Jahennim,
Like the mailman just delivering a message
Who else do you know with a swagger that’s blessed?
The best and perfected, corrected the method
Madina state of mind, coming from the hood of Mecca
Champion companions, homeboys were go-getters
Did it bigger and better, had followers before twitter
The leader of leaders, amir to believers
Enjoined all the good and forbade all the evil
My hero taught people that we were all equal
The best of examples outlined what is legal
Forever I’m grateful for all that he came for
May blessings and peace always reach to my mentor
My teacher, my brother, my hero, my prophet
Muhammed, Sallau alahe wsalaam
And that’s how it goes, so tell everyone you know
That this party don’t stop till the son of Mary come home
I am pleased with my Lord and Islam as my deen,
May we die on these words, Allahuma, ameen [*]

The understanding of God in Islam

– Written by Ziyaad : 

The most fundamental belief that a Muslim has is that “There is only One God,” the Creator, the Sustainer — known in the Arabic language and by Muslims as Allah. Allah is not a foreign god, nor an idol.

Allah” derives from an Arabic word that means “the God.” Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews often use the same name to refer to the Almighty. Muslims see it as the proper name of the One God, as it is the name used in the Qur’an. For the purposes of this passage, the words “God” and “Allah” will be used interchangeably.

The One true God is a reflection of the unique concept that Islam associates with God. To a Muslim, Allah is the Almighty Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who is similar to nothing, and nothing is comparable to Him. The Prophet Muhammad was asked by his contemporaries about Allah; the answer came directly from God Himself in the form of a short chapter of the Qur’an, which is considered to be the essence of the unity or the motto of monotheism. This is chapter 112, which reads: “In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Say (O Muhammad), He is God, the One God, the Everlasting Refuge, who has not begotten, nor has been begotten, and equal to Him is not anyone”.

Some non-Muslims allege that God in Islam is a stern and cruel God who demands to be obeyed fully and is not loving and kind. Nothing could be farther from the truth than this allegation. It is enough to know that, with the exception of one, each of the 114 chapters of the Qur’an begins with the verse “In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate”. In one of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), we are told that “God is more loving and kind than a mother to her dear child”.

On the other hand, God is also just. Hence, evildoers and sinners must have their share of punishment, and the virtuous must have God’s bounties and favours. Actually, God’s attribute of Mercy has full manifestation in His attribute of Justice. People suffering throughout their lives for His sake should not receive similar treatment from their Lord as people who oppress and exploit others their whole lives. Expecting similar treatment for them would amount to negating the very belief in the accountability of man in the Hereafter and thereby negate all the incentives for a moral and virtuous life in this world. The following Qur’anic verses are very clear and straightforward in this respect.

“God is the Creator of everything. He is the guardian over everything. Unto Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth.” (39:62-63)

“No creature is there crawling on the earth, but its provision rests on God. He knows its lodging place and its repository” (11:16).

The Qur’an also reminds us of the falsity of all alleged gods. To the worshippers of man-made objects it asks: “Do you worship what you have carved yourself” (37:95). “ Or have you taken unto yourself others beside Him to be your protectors, even such as have no power either for good or for harm to themselves” (13:16). http://www.sultan.org

The biggest sin in Islam, which is called shirk, which is to associate other deities or beings with God. In fact, the Qur’an describes this as the one and only sin that God will not forgive.

All idols and attempts to reach God through others are strictly forbidden. Muslims do not believe that God came to earth in the form of any man or creature, and they reject all attempts to personalize the Almighty or place intermediaries between humans and God.

The belief in the pure Oneness of God is called tawhid, a word that derives from the Arabic word for the number one. The Qur’an instructs believers to “worship Allah, and join none with Him in worship” (Qur’an 4:36). Islamic scholars further refine this belief to include the following categories of tawhid:

•Tawhid Al-Rububiyah: The belief that Allah Alone is the Lord of all things.

•Tawhid Al-Uluhiyah: The belief that Allah Alone is to be worshiped.

•Tawhid Al-Asma’ was-Sifat: The belief that Allah Alone has certain attributes or names that can be used to describe His perfection.

Allah’s Relationship with People

While Allah is fully transcendent and remains beyond all human attempts at understanding, Islam also teaches that Allah is near to us. Allah fully sustains each and every thing and creature on earth, and He reaches out to us in mercy and compassion. The Qur’an describes God as saying, “When My people ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close to them. I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to my call, and believe in Me, that they may walk in the right way” (Qur’an 2:186). Allah knows everything about every grain of sand, every leaf, and the secret whisperings of each person’s heart. One does not need any special devices or intermediaries to reach out directly to Allah.

Muslims believe that since Allah reaches out to us in compassion and mercy, it is our responsibility to respond to His call. Muslims believe that Allah is the One “Who created me, and it is Allah who guides me, and it is Allah who feeds me and gives me to drink. And when I am ill, it is Allah who cures me. And it is Allah who will cause me to die, and then will bring me back to life” (Qur’an 26:78–81).

Although Muslims consider God to be transcendent and beyond our full understanding, they also believe he is close to human beings. In the Qur’an, it says that God created each human being and knows “the dark suggestions his soul makes to him, for we are nearer to him than his jugular vein.” (Qur’an 50:16)

In the Qur’an, people are asked to look around them for the signs of Allah in the natural world. The balance of the world, the rhythms of life are “signs for those who would believe.” The universe is in perfect order: the orbits of the planets, the cycles of life and death, the seasons of the year, the mountains and the rivers, the mysteries of the human body. This order and balance are neither haphazard nor random. The world, and everything in it, has been created with a perfect plan, by the One who knows all.

Islam is a natural faith, a religion of responsibility, purpose, balance, discipline, and simplicity. To be a Muslim is to live your life remembering God and striving to follow His merciful guidance.

Quotes from the Qur’an

“Say, ‘He is Allah, the One;

Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;

He begets not, and neither is He begotten;

And there is nothing that can be compared to Him.”

Qur’an 112:1-4

Attributes of God

In Islam, God is completely Omnipotent and All-Knowing, and nobody has ever seen Him. Therefore, He can be understood only by description, through His characteristics and attributes. According to Islamic tradition, there are more than ninety-nine such attributes that are used to describe God. For instance, Muslims believe that God is:

•Al-Khaliq, the Creator

•Al-Rahman, the Merciful

•Al-Qudoos, the Holy One

•As-Salaam, the Source of Peace

•Al-Aziz, the Mighty, Strong

•Al-Razzaaq, the Sustainer, Provider

•Al’-Aleem, the All-Knowing

•Al-Ghafoor, the All-Forgiving

•Al-Wadood, the Loving

Muslims believe that God is close to us; He knows our innermost thoughts, feelings, and fears. He hears our prayers: “When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them). I respond to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on me. Let them also, with a will, listen to my call, and believe in me, that they may walk in the right way” (Qur’an 2:186).

He accepts our repentance and grants forgiveness: “But without a doubt, I am He that forgives again and again, to those who repent, believe, and do right. Those who, in truth, are on true guidance.”(Qur’an 20:82).

While God is close to us, Muslims approach God with reverence and respect, not as a personal “friend.” God is Merciful and Loving, but we also have a duty toward Him. If we are neglectful of our duty or reject faith in Him, we have much to be concerned about. God is Merciful but also just. Muslims speak of God with awe and respect, and they do not joke around about matters of faith [*]